Easy Crispy Oven Baked French Fries

All Photos © Christine Elise McCarthy 2015

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OK. So I started a new job last week – in post – on Tamar & Vince (click that to see the trailer). Lemme just say – it is a world I would not typically stumble into – even over-served. But – it is entertaining & it is NOT breaking rocks in the hot sun so – I go – I do post things – I giggle. I get paid.

Then I come home & feel like I deserve shit – after watching rich people HAVE shit for 9 hours. Of course – I can’t have a McMansion in Calabasas but you know what? I CAN have French fries in Hollywood & so having French fries in Hollywood is what I did. TWO DAYS IN A ROW! Except for a little olive oil – these are really just baked potatoes in miniature form. Virtually guiltless. SO yummy! And so many options for dipping. I used ketchup & two (non-vegan) aiolis from Stonewall kitchen – mainly because I am drawn to their packaging and I like to pay too much for things that are still affordable even at exorbitant prices. The Sriracha one is better than the truffle one – in my opinion – and these two things could easily be made at home using vegan mayo.

I read somewhere that adding a tablespoon or two of sugar to the fries aids in crispiness without adding sweetness. I will try that next time & add an update here. Meanwhile – this is just potatoes, olive oil and S&P. Eat two whole potatoes worth? Maybe 400 calories. 400 calories? I stress my way through that by lunch time – but – the stress does release cortisol into my system & leaves me just as fat as fries with no stress would – so – I’m not sure I am getting the best deal – BUT – these fries remain in a low calorie category, they are easy & cheap & do a lot to fill gaping holes in your soul that are supposed to be filled with various senses of personal accomplishment and with love (love from OTHERS – not this fickle & unreliable self-love shit). I say – if you are gonna live a hollow & lonely life filled with missed opportunity, lost affection, inevitable aging, self-loathing & regret – these fries might be all that is left to live for. Oh – and dogs. Dogs & fries. And champagne. And this paddle ball & that chair.

OK – I digress.

I read that soaking the sliced potatoes in ICED WATER helps them release starches & aids in the crisping process. So – do it for as long as you can – or at least for as long as it takes your oven to heat up.

Easy Crispy Oven Baked French Fries

INGREDIENTS

Russet potatoes – peeled (or not) & cut into fries of the thickness you prefer (I went about the size of my pinkies)

Olive oil

S&P

POTENTIAL GARNISH – crushed garlic warmed for about a minute in a frying pan with some olive oil – or chopped herbs or Parmesan or a drizzle of truffle oil.

DIRECTIONS

Prepare the potatoes & soak them in icy cold water.

Heat the oven to 450-475.

After the potatoes have soaked for at least 15 minutes – dry them off. I did this by rolling them in paper towels wrapped in a kitchen towel.

Toss with as little olive oil as you can use & still get a thin coat on all the potatoes. Other oils – like canola or vegetable oil – would work, too.

Toss with S&P and maybe a TBS of sugar? I tossed them by putting the potato, olive oil and S&P in a Ziplock bag or Tupperware container & shaking the shit outta them.

Spread the fries out on a cooking sheet (I lined mine with parchment paper because it is magical & nothing sticks to it but foil & cooking spray would work, too). Do not let the fries touch each other or they won’t get crispy.

Bake the fries for between 30 minutes to an hour – depending on the thickness of the fries & the effectiveness of the oven. Turn them in about 15-20 minute intervals – so at least two sides get browned. Don’t overcook them & pull out the thinnest ones as the fatter ones still require cooking. Eat those as a treat to yourself for doing the fucking cooking.

Here are mine at about half way through the process & before I flipped them. When they are done – eat’m up! See how easy?